General Instructor - Whanganui Prison

CGR Services; Whanganui; On-site; NZD 73,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Accommodation provided

Job summary

Ara Poutama Aotearoa - Department of Corrections seeks a General Instructor for Whanganui Prison Industries. You will deliver vocational training in civil infrastructure and horticulture to adult learners, supporting skill development and work readiness within a custodial setting.

The role involves multi-layered duties, including onsite training, collaboration with partners, and six weeks at the National Learning Centre in Upper Hutt (accommodation provided).

Qualifications

• Proven experience delivering formal qualifications to adult learners in civil infrastructure and/or horticulture.
• Strong interpersonal and time management skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively and adapt to change.
• Solid Health & Safety knowledge and practical application.
• Full NZ Driver Licence and First Aid Certificate required before start.
• Assessor 4098 qualification advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Deliver formal qualifications to adult learners in civil infrastructure and/or horticulture.
• Support learners to develop practical skills and work readiness.
• Collaborate with site teams, external trainers and stakeholders.
• Undergo six weeks of training at the National Learning Centre in Upper Hutt (accommodation provided).

Skills

Adult learning experience

Civil infrastructure

Horticulture

Interpersonal skills

Time management

Critical thinking

Problem solving

Collaboration

Health & Safety

Driver Licence

First Aid

Assessor 4098

Education

Assessor 4098 qualification (advantage)

Relevant vocational qualifications in civil infrastructure or horticulture

Job description

General Instructor Mō te tūnga | About the role

The Whanganui Prison Pathways Team is seeking a motivated and skilled full-time Instructor to join our Industries Team. Our onsite industries span a range of vocational areas, including horticulture, civil infrastructure, joinery, and other industry sectors. There may be more than one position available for the right candidates. As part of a larger professional Pathways Team, you will play a key role in supporting learners to develop practical skills, industry knowledge, and work readiness through contextualised, work-based training. This is an exciting opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of the men in our care and to contribute to their future success, the wellbeing of their whānau, and the communities to which they will return. In this role you will be instrumental in helping individuals identify their strengths and potential, build confidence in learning, develop new skills, and achieve meaningful qualifications. These outcomes will enhance their employment prospects and support successful reintegration into the community following release.

Ngā pūkenga me ngā wheako | Skills and experience

We are looking for someone with proven experience in delivering formal qualifications to adult learners in the civil infrastructure and/or horticulture sectors. This role will require good interpersonal skills, time management strategies, critical thinking and problem solving. Along with the emotional intelligence and resilience to support training deliverables in an environment subject to change and constant improvement. Building and maintaining strong relationships across the site and with external training providers, key stakeholders, commercial partners, and other relevant parties is essential to success in this role.

• Proven experience, knowledge, and relevant qualifications in your expertise.
• Experience in an adult learning or training environment, with proven interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to implement efficient and effective training strategies that deliver positive learning outcomes.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively.
• Energy, a proactive attitude and the ability to inspire, motivate and influence others to achieve.
• The willingness to turn your hand to a wide range of tasks, and the willingness to assist in all the various prison industries as required, is essential.
• Able to identify, address, and resolve workplace conflict effectively and constructively.
• The ability to think critically, be innovative, and use good decision-making processes with solid rationale.
• A strong Health & Safety knowledge and practical application.
• An understanding of the Hōkai Rangi Strategy, and Ara Poutama Aotearoa/Department of Corrections Values and how these will influence your practice.
• A full NZ Driver Licence and First Aid Certificate (before job commencement) will be required.
• Holding an assessor's 4098 qualification is an advantage.

As a General Instructor your role is multi-layered. You will have custodial responsibilities, industry-based responsibilities, planning and training responsibilities. A comprehensive introduction to Corrections and extensive initial training are provided for the successful applicant. This will involve on-site training as well as six weeks training at our National Learning Centre in Upper Hutt, Wellington (accommodation provided), to focus on the custodial elements of the position.

Ngā painga | The benefits

• The salary range is $72,514 - $90,322 per annum.
• Appointment and remuneration will reflect skills and experience relevant to the role.

Mō mātou | About us

Join Ara Poutama Aotearoa - Department of Corrections, where your work will contribute to improving public safety, reducing re-offending, and address the overrepresentation of Māori in correctional facilities. As a values-led organisation, we use the principles of rangatira (leadership), manaaki (respect), wairua (spirituality), kaitiaki (guardianship), and whānau (relationships) to guide our work and achieve the goals of our Hōkai Rangi strategy. We value inclusion and diversity in our workforce, and as a Public Service organisation we are committed to building a workforce that reflects the public we serve.

We strive to make our recruitment process fair, and we encourage you to discuss reasonable accommodations with us if required.

Applications close on: Thursday 17th of September 2026

If you have any questions or want to learn more about a career with us, contact [e-mail], or visit careers.corrections.govt.nz.

We are not accepting applications via recruitment agencies for this role. Unsolicited CVs submitted by agencies will not be accepted and no agency fees will apply.